Original German WWI - WWII Award and Insignia Grouping with 1914 EKII, Hindenburg Cross, Eastern Medal, and More - 10 Items

Original Items: Only One Set Available. This is a very nice collection of German WWI & WWII Awards and Insignia, which was brought back from the European theater by a USGI after the war was concluded. Many solders traded these on the way back, and would end up with a pocket full of various different collectible items, and this set represents the typical "haul" one might have come back with. It includes a nice WWI Iron Cross 1914 Second class, as well as awards and insignia from the WWII period.

This lovely set includes:

- One Imperial German WWI Iron Cross 1914 2nd Class Medal (Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse 1918), missing ribbon. We checked the ring, and there is no maker marking we can see. There is some age to the paint and oxidation, but the silver is still present, with a lovely tarnished patina. The central core is just a bit loose inside the frame, with the paint relatively well retained.

- One German WWII War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz II Klasse mit Schwertern) without ribbon or hanger ring. The metal still retains much of the original bronze wash, with some overall light wear and patination.

- One Pre-WWII German WWI Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (Hindenburg Cross) Medal without Swords (for Noncombatants) and shortened ribbon. This example is in very good condition, though the ribbon was cut off just above the hanger ring. It is marked on the back with D & Co..

- One German WWII Eastern Front Medal (Ostmedaille). The medal still retains the top hanger ring, though the ribbon is no longer present. It shows a lovely oxidized patina on the helmet and edge trim, while the finish on the darker areas is well retained. The hanger ring is marked with Präsidialkanzlei des Führers Lieferant (Presidential Chancellery Supplier) number 1 on the back of the pin, which represents Deschler & Sohn of München.

- Two German WWII Right Side Feuerschutzpolizei Fire police Right Side BeVo Embroidered Collar Litzen. These are machine woven from silver bullion thread with a Karminrot (carmine red) background, the Truppenfarbe (Troop Color) of the Feuerschutzpolizei

- One German WWII Kriegsmarine Navy Maschinenmaat (Machinist's Mate 3rd Class) Embroidered Ratings Badge, white uniform version. This features a white backing with navy blue embroidered insignia. There is an anchor with a large gear on top of it, without a chevron underneath, indicating a 3rd Class Petty Officer. Condition is very good, showing staining and age toning to the white background. It also is maker marked by Karl Heisler Berlin C2 on the back.

- One German WWII Kriegsmarine Navy Engine Machinist Enlisted Career Insignia. This has a Navy Blue background with a gold cog wheel in the center.

- One German WWII Luftwaffe Air Force Obergefreiter Sleeve Chevrons. These are the correct silver tresse and have a blue gray Fliegerblau (Flyer's Blue) background. This rank roughly corresponds to a U.S. Army Corporal.

- One German WWII Kriegsmarine BeVO Embroidered Breast Eagle. It has the correct gold yellow thread on a navy blue backing, and has not been installed on a uniform. Shows just a bit of fraying at the ends.

- One German WWII Wreath and Cockade Insignia for a Customs Official Visor Cap. The rectangular shape and style of leaves for a customs visor cap is distinctive, and this is an exact match, with a patinated zinc wreath and aluminum cockade.

A wonderful totally genuine grouping perfect for the German Medal and Insignia collector. Ready to research and display!

More information on some of the awards in this set:

German WWI Prussian Iron Cross 2nd Class:
Established by Frederick William in 1813 for gallantry in action, the decoration was revived several times for later conflicts. The bulk of the issues are divided into 1st and 2nd class versions, but a rare and superior 'Grand Cross' was also awarded for successful field commanders. During WW1 the lower decoration was freely awarded with 5½ million second class types issued. Originally, the Iron Cross was an award of the Kingdom of Prussia, however given Prussia's pre-eminent place in the German Empire formed in 1871, it became an award for all of Germany.

The basic design of the WW1 crosses is a central Tatzenkreuz (cross pattée) struck from iron and mounted in a silver frame which has a raised crenulated decorative border. The obverse of the cross bears the date 1914 under a crowned 'W' monogram. Reverse bears an oak leaf cluster with the date of the decoration’s institution, 1813 underneath - the crowned initials of Frederick William are in the top arm above the oak leaf cluster. Suspension for second-class types is by means of a ring, and frequently this ring bears a maker's stamp.

Please examine the edge seam for authentication, which is not present on reproductions. Iron crosses were commonly constructed from an iron core sandwiched in a surrounding two part silver frame, normally the seam of these two silver parts is visible around the edge of the cross as is seen on this fine example.

War Merit Cross 2nd Class (Kriegsverdienstkreuz) with Swords (for Combat)
This was a decoration of NSDAP Germany during the Second World War, which could be awarded to military personnel and civilians alike. By the end of the war it was issued in four degrees, and had a related civil decoration. It was created by Adolf AH in October 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross which was used in earlier wars. The award was graded the same as the Iron Cross: War Merit Cross Second Class, War Merit Cross First Class, and Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross. The award had two variants: with swords given to soldiers for exceptional service "not in direct connection with combat", and without swords for meritorious service to civilians in "furtherance of the war effort". As with the Iron Cross, Recipients had to have the lower grade of the award before getting the next level.

Hindenburg Cross with Crossed Swords (for combat):
The Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (German: Das Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriegs 1914/1918), commonly, but incorrectly, known as the Hindenburg Cross was established by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, President of the German Republic, by an order dated 13 July 1934, to commemorate the distinguished deeds of the German people during the First World War. This was Germany's first official service medal for soldiers of Imperial Germany who had taken part in the war, and where they had since died it was also awarded to their surviving next-of-kin. Shortly after its issuance, the government of NSDAP Germany declared the award as the only official service decoration of the First World War and further forbid the continued wearing of German Free Corps awards on any military or paramilitary uniform of a state or NSDAP Party organization.

The Eastern Medal (Ostmedaille), officially the Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal (Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42), was a military award of the Wehrmacht which was created by ordinance of Adolf H on 26 May 1942.

The Eastern Medal was awarded to any member of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS "in recognition of experience in the struggle against the Bolshevik enemy and the Russian winter within the period from 15 November 1941 to 15 April 1942." It was also awarded posthumously to any service member who died in the line of duty within the Soviet Union. It was wryly called the Frozen Meat Medal or the "Order of the Frozen Flesh" (Gefrierfleischorden).